Alarm-controller for sprinkler systems



N. H. SUREN.

ALARM CONTROLLER FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILED AUG.18.1914.

l. 3 1 5 25 8 PzItented Sept. 9, 1919.

Mir 166565." Jkverziorn' in E I a /4 u IL A IE? Q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

NATHAN H. simian, or NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, AssiGNoR TO GAMEWELL FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH. COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A coaromwron or NEW YORK.

ALARM-CONTROLLER FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.

Application filed August n, 1914. Serial No. 857,425.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, NATHAN H. SUREN, a citizen of the. United States, residing at Needham, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Alarm- Gontrollers for Sprinkler Systems, of which the rollowlng is a specification.

This invention relates to an electric alarmcontroller for sprinkler-systems for sounding an alarm or recording at a-distant point diii'erent levels of water contained in a tank or reservoir or the difierent pressures contained in a cylinder.

In sprinkler-systems it is a common practice to connectthe service or sprinkler-pipes with awater supply tank or reservoir which is' arranged at a suitable elevation; also to connect with the sprinkler-system a compressed air tank by which pressure is supplied; and one of the objects of the present invention is the construction of a pressurecontrolled element adapted for association with the tank or reservoir or with the cylinder containing compressed air, or like pressure-controlled elements may be associated with both the tank and the cylinder. The pressure-controlled element is arranged for operation by the pressure due to the weight of the water or by the pressure contained in the cylinder, and with said pressure-controlled element is associated a plurality of circuit-controllers arranged for operation by said element in response to different predetermined pressures and said circuit-controllers are arranged to control a corresponding number of electric circuits, which circuits may control the operation of an electric-signal recorder or other formof vreeeiver.

The pressure} controlled element comprises a fluid-tight member arranged in open communication with the tank, reservoir or cylinder, having an extensible wall admit ting of its expansion in a longitudinal direction in response to'a rise in pressure and of its contraction likewise in a longitudinal direction in response to a. drop in pressure, and means are or may be associated with said member which assist in contracting it upon a drop in the pressure, which means is adapted to be extended by said member upon expansion or extension longitudinally thereof in response to a rise inpressure. The mov- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

able-member of the circuit-controllers is arranged for operation by said member upon expansion and contraction thereof.

Figure 1 is a portion of a sprinkler-system having a water supply tank or reservoir shown in vertical section, and a cylinder for compressed air shown in elevation, both the tank or reservoir and the cylinder having a pressure-controlled element embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the pressure-controlled element.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the pres-- sure-controlled element taken on the dotted line 33, Fig. 2. p

10 represents atank or reservoir adapted to contain a supply of water, and 12 a compressed air cylinder, and both said tank or reservoir and said cylinder are here shown as connected with a sprinkler-system, the service pipe 13, together with branch pipes 14: only being here shown.

15 represents the cylindrical shell of the pressure-controlled element, having at its lower end a circular base 16, and having at its upper end a bonnet 17. The base 16 has a center hole through it which receives the screw-threaded end-portion of a pipe 20, the other end-portion of said pipe being connected with the tank or reservoir or with the cylinder. The pressure-controlled member is arranged in said casing, and said member, as here shown, consists of a cylinder 25 formed with transverse corrugations, the lower end-portion of which tightly engages a boss 26, formed on the inside of the base 16, concentric with the center-hole, and the upper-end portion of which is closed by a circular plate 27. The corrugated cylinder is in open communication, by means of the pipe 20, with the tank or cylinder, and hence is responsive to the pressure contained therein and to variations of the pressure. The corrugated cylinder forms an extensible and contractible wall for the pressure-controlled member, whereby said member is expanded and contracted in a longitudinal direction. As said n'ember is in open communication with the tank or cylinder it will shown, as 40, 41, 42,

ated with said corrugated member for assisting in contracting it upon a drop in the pressure, said springs being connected at their lower ends to the base 16, and at their upper ends to the end-portions ofv a crossbar 29, which is secured to an upright post 30, rising from the center of the plate 27, at the top of said corrugated member. Said springs are or may be made ad]ustable and have a normal tendency to contract and are adapted to be extended by the expansion of the corrugated member. The upright center-post 30, as here shown, extends up through a plate 31, which is arranged at the top of the case 15, which plate serves as a guide and support for it.

A plurality of circuit-controllersarearranged in the casing above the extensible cylinder, the casing purposely being made ong enough to form a chamber of substantial size to receive them, and the circultwires leading from the circuit-controllers enter and pass through a tube 32, which is arranged in upright position in'the casing and extends through the base 16. Said cir cuit-controllers, as here shown, consist of a. plurality of contact-pens, four being here and 43, all secured at one end to a block 44, of'insulating material, which block is secured to the interior of the case 15, the other ends of said pens being free for engagement Witha movable-member. Said movable-member consists of a cylindrical block 45, of conducting material, arranged on the upright post 30, which block is arranged for engagement therewith of the free ends of the contactpens. To support the free ends of the contact-pens in the plane of the surface of the block when said block is moved out of engagementtherewith, a cylindrical block 46 of insulating material is arranged on said upright post in continuation of the block 45. The block 45 is movable up and down by and with the post, and as said post is connected with the pressure-controlled member it is moved by and with said member. The circuit-controllers are or may be employed for controlling the circuits of the controlling-magnets of a self-starting signaltransmitter, such for instance as represented in my application Serial Number 6575, filed Feb. 6. 1915, by which the operation of a signal-recorder is controlled, and, herein, three circuit-controllers are provided arranged for operating the circuits of three controllirig-magnets for the transmitter, but, so far as my invention is concerned, any other number of circuit-controllers may be employed, and, furthermore, the circuit-controllers may be otherwise constructed. As I 50 which is arranged in the have herein represented three circuit-controllers, it is designed and intended that one, as for instance 40, 41, shall indicate the tank as empty, or the cylinder devoid of pressure; and the circuit-controller 40, 42, as. indicating a mean elevation of water in the tank or amean pressure contained in the cylinder; andthe circuit-controller 40, 43, as indicating the tank or reservoir filled to its maximum level, or the cylinder as containing its maximum pressure, thus three different predetermined conditions are indicated, but a greater or lesser number of circuit-controllers may be employed for indicating a greater or lesser number of conditions. To prevent the pressure-controlled element from freezing a steam-pipe 51, or other form of heating-device may be arranged in it, which is here shown as pass ing through the pressure pipe sothat said pipe 51 may be connected with a steam pipe tank.

I claim -1. In an alarm-controller for sprinklersystems, a pressure-controlled element consistingof a hollow transversely corrugated member, in open communication with the pressure and responsive in a longitudinal direction to variations thereof, an upright post connected with said member, a guide for said post, a contact-memberarranged on said post, a correspondingly shaped block of insulating material arranged on said post adjacent said contact-member, a plurality of spaced-apart contact-pens arranged for engagement with said contact-member, and a block of insulating material bearing said contact-pens, the contact-member and block having a sliding movement with respect to the contactpens, substantially as described.

2. In an alarm-controller for s 'n'inklersystems and the like, a pressure-controlled element, a casing comprising a base having a center-hole and concentric boss, a cylinder attached at its lower end to said base and having means at the top for closing it. a transversely corrugated cylinder having its lower end engaging the boss, means to close the other end of said corrugated cylinder, one or more contracting-springs connecting said cylinder, and one or more circuit-controllers, the movable-member of which is connected with and moved by said cylinder, substantially as described. i

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. NATHAN H. SUREN. l/Vitnesses:

C. C. BISSETT, Miss B. LACEY. 

